VOZ Workers’ Rights Education Project:

Mission Statement: "Voz believes that sustainable and transformative social justice work must be led by the communities most affected. At Voz, we model this philosophy by striving to be a fully worker-led organization, and by empowering Portland day laborers not just through economic opportunities, but through opportunities to become leaders in their community. The day laborer community is a diverse group of leaders and organizers from around the world, who bring their skills, knowledge and life experiences to our struggle for a better future for immigrant workers in Portland."

I chose VOZ because labor and immigration justice are deeply connected to civic power, especially for youth from immigrant families. Their organizing uplifts day laborers—people often excluded from mainstream political conversations. VOZ's grassroots model and direct advocacy efforts remind me that democracy includes everyone, not just voters. They help PDX Future Voters think critically about who our system leaves out and how to fight for them.

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